The forest erupted into chaos as Razen charged at Aaron, her red mana flaring as she swung her sword with precision and speed. But Aaron was faster—much faster. In a blur of movement, he vanished from her sight and reappeared behind her, his fist already in motion to deliver a devastating blow. Razen's eyes widened in shock, but before Aaron's attack could connect, Mixarnt appeared in front of her, his wooden sword glowing with infused mana as he blocked the strike.
"Got your back," Mixarnt said with a grin, his voice calm despite the intensity of the moment. Without hesitation, he unleashed a point-blank Mana Wave, the force of the attack sending Aaron skidding backward, though the assassin quickly regained his footing, his cold eyes narrowing.
Razen, still catching her breath, shot Mixarnt a quick glance. "Thanks," she muttered, her voice tight but grateful. She quickly regained her stance, her sword at the ready as she prepared to attack again.
Meanwhile, Mitchel took charge of the situation, her sharp mind already calculating the next move. "Okay, Liva, Lina, Mara, Tessa, Rise—take the six merchants to our carriage where their supplies are! Then rush to Ateria using the other road!" she ordered, her voice firm and commanding. She saw the opportunity created by the distraction of Mixarnt, Razen, and Aaron's battle and wasn't about to let it go to waste.
Liva and the others nodded, quickly moving to gather the merchants. Rise, despite his injuries, forced a grin. "Leave it to us!" he said, his voice filled with determination as he helped guide the merchants toward the carriage.
Erenesto, who had been watching the chaos unfold with his group, stepped forward, his expression conflicted. "Damnit, we can't let you escort the merchants alone—" he began, but before he could finish, Mitchel raised her hand, her black gravity magic surging forward. The spell slammed into Erenesto and his gang, pinning them to the ground with immense force.
"People who don't have the backbone to pick a side in a war don't deserve to be Aether Knights." Mitchel said coldly, her eyes sharp and unyielding. She had no patience for neutrality, especially in a situation as dire as this.
Kleto and his gang, seeing their chance slipping away, shouted, "Don't let them get away!" They began chasing after Mitchel and the others, but the merchants were already running for their lives, following Rise's group. The merchants knew they had no choice—the front of the caravan was a battlefield, and the carriages were being destroyed one by one. Rise's group, despite the chaos, was the most organized and least chaotic option they had.
Back in the forest, the battle between Mixarnt, Razen, and Aaron intensified. Aaron's speed and precision were unmatched, but Mixarnt's adaptability and Razen's relentless attacks kept him on his toes. Mixarnt's wooden sword, infused with mana, clashed against Aaron's strikes, each impact sending shockwaves through the air.
"You're not bad," Aaron said, his voice cold and mocking. "But you're still just a kid playing at being a hero."
Mixarnt grinned, his eyes gleaming with determination. "Funny, I was about to say the same thing about you, an old man acting like a hero haha!" he shot back, his tone light but filled with resolve. He knew Aaron was dangerous, but he also knew he couldn't afford to lose—not when so much was at stake.
Razen, meanwhile, circled around Aaron, her movements swift and calculated. She wasn't just fighting for herself—she was fighting for her friends, for the merchants, and for the chance to prove herself as an Aether Knight. Her red mana flared as she launched another attack, her sword slicing through the air with precision.
The forest was alive with the sounds of battle—the clash of weapons, the crackle of mana, and the shouts of the participants. The trial had become more than just a test of strength—it was a test of character, loyalty, and determination. And as the chaos unfolded, one thing was clear: Mixarnt and his friends weren't going down without a fight.
Mitchel, ever the strategist, barked out a command to Razen. "Razen! Follow Rise, leave Aaron to Mixarnt! It's clear that you'll only be a burden to Mixarnt!" Her words were harsh but pragmatic, cutting through the noise of the fight.
Razen's eyes widened, her pride stinging at the accusation. "W-what!? Burden my ass!" she retorted, her voice filled with frustration. But deep down, she knew Mitchel was right. Despite her skill and determination, she couldn't keep up with Aaron's speed, and her attacks kept missing their mark, unless she reveals her true abilities. She felt a pang of helplessness, but before she could dwell on it, Mixarnt's voice cut through her thoughts.
"Hey, Raz! You aren't really a burden! But yeah, I'd rather have you help Rise. He isn't fully healed yet, and aside from him, the others aren't that strong!" Mixarnt said, his tone light and encouraging despite the intensity of his battle with Aaron. His grin was as carefree as ever, even as he dodged another lightning-fast strike from the assassin.
Razen hesitated, her pride warring with her logic. But then Mixarnt dropped another bombshell. "Let's go on a date after this! I kinda developed a crush on you. Hehe," he said casually, as if he weren't in the middle of a life-or-death fight.
Razen's face turned bright red, her composure shattered. Aaron, meanwhile, looked visibly annoyed, his cold demeanor cracking for a moment. "You've got some nerve, flirting while fighting me," he muttered, his voice dripping with disdain.
"F-fine! I'll leave now!" Razen stammered, her voice a mix of embarrassment and determination. She turned and dashed away, her heart racing as she chased after Rise's group to help them. As she ran, she couldn't help but smile wryly to herself. For years, she had been seen as too tomboyish, too strong, too unfeminine for the noble boys who preferred more traditionally girly girls. But Mixarnt—he was different. He had seen her strength and admired her for it, and now he had casually invited her on a date. The thought made her cheeks burn even hotter, and she found herself holding her face like a giddy schoolgirl as she ran.
The audience watching the broadcast erupted into laughter, cheers, and whistles at the scene. Alyssia, watching from the royal seating area, clapped her hands together in delight. "I'm so happy!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling. "Mixarnt will have another girlfriend aside from me and my sister! That means I'll have another friend!"
Elyssia, on the other hand, was less thrilled. She crossed her arms, her expression a mix of exasperation and mild annoyance. "Sigh... I can't believe I'm his fiancée too," she muttered, her cheeks tinged with a blush. She knew Mixarnt's tendency to be true to himself, to speak his mind without thinking of the consequences. It was one of the things she admired about him, but it also made her want to bonk him on the head sometimes.
In the grand hall of the palace, the reaction was equally mixed. Kalavan, Razen's father, stood frozen, his jaw hanging open in disbelief. "Did I hear that right, Gawain?" he asked, his brow twitching as he turned to his fellow general.
Gawain, trying to suppress a laugh, nodded. "Yes. Mixarnt invited your daughter to a date."
Kay, standing nearby, added with a smirk, "And she's blushing, so I'm assuming she likes him."
Gerald and Borris burst into laughter, their amusement only growing as Kalavan's face turned red with frustration. "What's so funny, you bastards!? That playboy's planning to make my little girl his woman! I should have just killed him back in the second trial! Arrrgghh!!!" Kalavan roared, his red mana flaring as he vented his annoyance.
The other generals couldn't help but laugh at his outburst, their amusement only adding fuel to the fire. Even the former generals and the king were entertained by the scene. "I can't believe that boy is a womanizer," Rosalinda said with a gentle laugh, remembering that her granddaughter Rosalind, the same age as Razen, was also in love with Mixarnt.
"Well, he seems to be unaware and aware at the same time about his relationships with girls," former General Lusaric added, his laughter echoing through the hall.
General Sunshine, meanwhile, sighed in exasperation. She, too, had feelings for Mixarnt, and his casual flirting was both endearing and infuriating. "Gahahaha! Don't worry, Sunshine! Mixarnt loves you too!" Gundrik, her father, said with a hearty laugh.
Sunshine's face turned as red as a tomato, and she bonked her father on the head with a loud thwack. "Hmp!" she huffed, crossing her arms and looking away, though the blush on her cheeks betrayed her true feelings.
"WAHAHAHA! That's my student for you!" Arthur said proudly.
"I... don't think that's something to be proud of." Lancelot whispered awkwardly while looking at Arthur.
Prince Art, watching the scene unfold, couldn't help but laugh as well. "I can't believe how bold Mixarnt is," he said, shaking his head in amusement. "Flirting in the middle of a battle? Only he could pull that off."
Back in the forest, the battle between Mixarnt and Aaron continued, but the mood had shifted. Mixarnt's casual flirting had not only thrown Razen off guard but also annoyed Aaron, who was now fighting with a bit more aggression. Mixarnt, however, remained unfazed, his grin as wide as ever. He knew the stakes were high, but he also knew that staying true to himself—whether in battle or in love—was what made him who he was. And right now, that was enough.